Dakota Hope, Minot, announced the opening of its first “Mini-Clinic,” a rural outreach program designed to bring pregnancy help services to rural communities, at its annual fundraising banquets in Minot and Stanley Sept. 19 and 20.

On Oct. 3, Dakota Hope – Tioga will begin seeing northwestern North Dakota clients at 221 North Main St. in Tioga. Free and confidential services offered at this site will include pregnancy testing, pregnancy options consultation and long-term (during pregnancy and up to three years after birth) educational and material support.

Thanks to an anonymous donor and the Knights of Columbus, a portable ultrasound has been purchased and will be used to bring the limited obstetric ultrasound services to Tioga and other Mini-Clinics in the planning stages. Anyone in the area who is parenting an infant or toddler is also eligible for the educational and material help.

In addition to the pregnancy and parenting services, the Discover Peace program will be offered for women who are experiencing emotional suffering from a previous abortion. Scheduled hours in Tioga will be Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with additional appointments as needed. Anyone interested in accessing these services can call 852-4673 or go to dakotahope.org.

Tim and Corrine Coughlin were recognized for their leadership during the renovation of the Tioga site, which involved a number of local volunteers/donors. The project was funded by the St. Joseph’s Community Health Foundation Twice Blessed Grant and donors who provided matching funds.

Dakota Hope Clinic Director Nadia Smetana announced Dakota Hope will be adding a new, free program, “Her Journey,” to offer Bible-based healing after domestic abuse.

She also announced Dakota Hope will be hiring and funding a Parent Care coordinator who will serve as a resource for those who receive a difficult diagnosis while their child is in utero. Often people who receive a diagnosis in which the baby is expected to be stillborn or to die before or shortly after birth are advised to have an abortion, ending the life of the unborn child.

“But every life, no matter the child’s abilities, is a treasure,” Smetana said following the banquet. “Parents need support as they love their unborn child and as they work through caring for that child after birth or grieving the child’s death. We hope to be a listening ear and a loving and professional resource for parents.”

Crowds of almost 800 people in Minot and 150 people in Stanley attended the banquets to hear Ryan Dobson speak about his dedication to adoption and parenting and to financially support the pregnancy help clinic, which serves northwestern and north central North Dakota.

He is the adopted son of Dr. James and Shirley Dobson. He co-hosted Family Talk with his father for a time, founded the REBEL Parenting ministry and podcast, together with his wife, Laura, to give parents practical advice to combat the pressures of society today. They also founded HomeSafe, a faith-based program empowering families with the strategies and tools they need to combat the dangers facing families today. He has authored nine books, including “Be Tolerant,” and speaks frequently at events to promote pregnancy help centers.

During the banquets, the audience also heard from clients who have benefited from Dakota Hope’s free services. Tanya H. participated in the post-abortion healing program, Discover Peace, six years ago, has been a co-facilitator since then and will lead the Discover Peace program starting on Oct. 3. She said her decision to participate in the Discover Peace class was “the best decision I have ever made.”

Dakota Hope Clinic opened nine years ago to address the problems of stress caused by unintended or otherwise stressful pregnancy. Lacking information and support, the parents involved are at risk of making the choice of terminating the pregnancy, according to Dakota Hope.

Dakota Hope Clinic is a life-affirming, non-political, inter-denominational Christian 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, governed by a local volunteer board of directors. With licensed registered nurses, overseen by licensed physicians, the clinic states it provides evidence-based information about all pregnancy options.